Sustainable Harvest International

Couldn't come up with a more succinct way of expressing this, so here it is direct from their website: "Central America has lost more than half of its rainforests in the last 50 years, contributing to mass extinctions and global warming. Rainforest destruction also wreaks havoc on local populations who depend on the rainforest for their survival. Sustainable Harvest International helps farmers reverse rainforest destruction with sustainable land-use practices that allow them to take control of their environmental and economic destinies. Since 1997, SHI has worked with more than 850 families and 900 students in Honduras, Panama, Belize and Nicaragua implementing alternatives to slash-and-burn farming, the leading cause of rainforest destruction in the region. Working with local field personnel trained by SHI, our participants have: Planted more than 1,900,000 trees. Converted 5,000 acres to sustainable uses, thereby saving 25,000 acres from slash-and-burn destruction. Improved nutrition through the establishment of more than 200 organic vegetable gardens. Increased farm income by over 450%. Built 165 wood-conserving stoves (saving 1,650 trees per year)" Established a decade ago by Peace Corp volunteer, Florence Reed, SHI is now handing over responsibility for management and funding to local farmers, beginning with the Honduras program. (If you want make sure your Valentines choccies are from shade grown, organic, multi-story forest gardens, then you could worse than making a donation to their cacao campaign.) ::Sustainable Harvest International, via Apple business profiles.